Speaking in public,
according to many people, is often considered to be an event filled with dread,
maybe even fear. If you are one of those people, I’d like you to think about
the times you are called on to speak in a slightly different, more positive way
if you can. Try to remember a time when
you accomplished a feat that resulted in a feeling of relief and gratitude if
not pride. Well, delivering a speech
articulately, even to one person, can engender that same feeling of euphoria,
not to mention a possible successful response from your listeners.
Having
worked on public speaking with young people for many years, I believe
unequivocally that confidence is the key to speech communication, and it is
achievable by following some important tips.
Notice I didn’t say easy tips, but anything worth doing
is worth doing well, especially if it contributes to your literacy, and the
effort is well worth the end result.
Tip #1
Be
prepared with the information you want to deliver. It is the single most important piece of
advice I can offer. Whether you are
speaking to your boss, giving a wedding toast, reporting information in a
presentation, or delivering a speech in front of the masses, know and plan carefully what you want to
say. I don’t mean you simply need to
memorize your speech, although that helps.
I’m talking about the written draft in which you have already taken into
consideration the following:
·
who your audience is (crucial),
·
the purpose and tone of the speech—the
occasion, and
·
the techniques and information you have
included that will hold the audience’s attention (See Dance of Language for rhetorical devices.)
Tip
#2
Eye contact: Know the content
of your speech well enough to take your eyes away from your notes
frequently. This eye contact with your
audience keeps the listeners engaged.
Symbolically, the eyes are the windows to the soul; therefore, when you
look into the eyes of other people, you are creating a momentary bond with
them, and there is power in such an act. Make your audience believe you are
interested in what they think; the truth is, you are. If you are addressing a
large audience, span the group with your eyes as you speak; don’t single out and
engage only a certain few in the group.
Tip
#3
Poise
reveals body language which speaks volumes about your self confidence. Several techniques can conceal your
nervousness.
·
Put your weight slightly forward on the
balls of your feet. That tiny shift in
weight can prevent your legs from shaking.
Don’t lean forward so much that you lose your balance.
·
Plant your feet solidly on the floor
with comfortable space between your feet.
Unless you plan to walk around, leave your feet there to avoid nervous
movement of your legs.
·
Rest your hands on the speaker’s stand
if there is one, or by your side. Don’t
put your hands in your pockets or play with your clothes, jewelry, or glasses. Do not touch your hair.
Nervousness is a natural feeling, but your audience doesn’t need to be
reminded of your emotional state; encourage them to focus on what you have to
say.
·
Gesture and move for a reason. Do not feel compelled to do so unless these
moves actually contribute to the effectiveness of the delivery of your speech.
Tip
#4
Volume
and clarity:
Speak
from your diaphragm, not your chest; you’ll have more air to push that sound
through your vocal chords. After all, if
your listeners can’t hear you, they won’t pay attention to you. End of
story. Although volume is essential,
clarity of your spoken words is, too.
Enunciate clearly; pronounce each word from beginning to end. In informal situations, many of us speak
quickly and drop the final consonant sounds so that some of our words become
garbled. You might imagine that you are
speaking in a strange way by slowly pronouncing each word very distinctly, but
to your listener, your speech simply sounds clear and easy to understand.
Tip
#5
Speak
at an even pace, not too fast, not too slowly. Remember that the pause can be a valuable
tool. Pausing allows the listener to
absorb your points as well as recognize the delineation between points. A pause acts as a separation between points,
ideas, or any individual segment of your speech.
Tip
#6
Practice a number of times
several days in advance of the appointed time if possible. If not, practice as often as you can before
the delivery. Even a short speech or a
one-on-one with the boss needs some kind of rehearsal simply because the brain
will remember the drill when you have to present the actual speech. There is
something daunting about first times, and your brain will be tricked into
thinking you’ve done it before. Some of your nervousness will dissipate with this
previously visualized experience.
Tip
#7
Dress
for the part as if you were in a play. Okay, let me
explain. Every speech, big or small,
involves drama to an extent. The part
you are playing in this little drama is a person of sincerity, of confidence,
of knowledge and expertise. The clothes you wear should be appropriate to the occasion, but my advice is to dress on the conservative side. You want your audience to be attracted to your words, not your clothes. Give your audience your best persona. All of us
humans have shortcomings, imperfections, and weaknesses, but in this theatrical
event, the speaker plays the role of one who at that moment is asking the
audience to believe in the strong, powerful, insightful, wise person in front
of them.
Every year my students are required
to write and deliver persuasive speeches to an audience of about three
hundred. After teaching them how to
write a speech based on three classical appeals of logos, ethos, and pathos and
a number of rhetorical devices that encourage persuasion, we work endlessly on
physical delivery. On the big day, after
writing a good speech, memorizing it, and rehearsing it numerous times, the
success these students experience is life altering. Very few experiences in the classroom come
close to this one for instilling confidence.
I hope you will find this same result when you apply some of these
techniques. After all, speaking is a
major form of demonstrating lambent
literacy.
